Purpose Occupational risks for reproductive disorders among hairdressers and cosmetologists have been examined in numerous epidemiological studies, although the results of those studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to evaluate the risks of reproductive disorders among cosmetologists and hairdressers.MethodsWe searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, as well as the reference lists of relevant publications, to identify studies for our analysis. After careful consideration, 19 eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. We also performed systematic evaluations of publication bias, heterogeneity, and publication quality.ResultsStudy-specific odds ratios (ORs) were weighted using the inverse of their variance to calculate fixed- and random-effect pooled estimates. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly increased risk of infertility (OR 1.15, 95 % CI 1.03–1.28), fetal death (OR 1.14, 95 % CI 1.04–1.24), and preterm delivery (OR 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00–1.07) among hairdressers and cosmetologists.ConclusionThese findings indicate that hairdressers and cosmetologists have a higher risk of reproductive disorders, compared to the general population.

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal mushroom used to treat immune-related diseases in East Asia. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract of C. militaris grown on germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis (GRC) fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus ON89A isolated from onion (GRC-ON89A) in vivo as well as in vitro. The anti-inflammatory effect of GRC-ON89A was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in the GRC-ON89A ethanol extract were significantly increased compared to that in GRC. GRC-ON89A hexane fraction (GRC-ON89A-Hex) inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO) compared to that of the LPS-treated control without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. GRC-ON89A-Hex decreased the inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, pre-treatment with GRC-ON89A-Hex significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. To induce allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), 1-fluoro-2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was applied to the surface of the right ears of C57BL/6N mice. GRC-ON89A reduced the ear swelling and thickness in DNFB-induced ACD mice. This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of GRC-ON89A as an anti-inflammatory dietary supplement or drug.

The hydrolytic activity of a recombinant β-glycosidase from Dictyoglomus turgidum that specifically hydrolyzed the xylose at the C-6 position and the glucose in protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type ginsenosides followed the order Rf > Rg₁ > Re > R₁ > Rh₁ > R₂. The production of aglycone protopanaxatriol (APPT) from ginsenoside Rf was optimal at pH 6.0, 80 °C, 1 mg ml⁻¹ Rf, and 10.6 U ml⁻¹ enzyme. Under these conditions, D. turgidum β-glycosidase converted ginsenoside R₁ to APPT with a molar conversion yield of 75.6 % and a productivity of 15 mg l⁻¹ h⁻¹ after 24 h by the transformation pathway of R₁ → R₂ → Rh₁ → APPT, whereas the complete conversion of ginsenosides Rf and Rg₁ to APPT was achieved with a productivity of 1,515 mg l⁻¹ h⁻¹ after 6.6 h by the pathways of Rf → Rh₁ → APPT and Rg₁ → Rh₁ → APPT, respectively. In addition, D. turgidum β-glycosidase produced 0.54 mg ml⁻¹ APPT from 2.29 mg ml⁻¹ PPT-type ginsenosides of Panax ginseng root extract after 24 h, with a molar conversion yield of 43.2 % and a productivity of 23 mg l⁻¹ h⁻¹, and 0.62 mg ml⁻¹ APPT from 1.35 mg ml⁻¹ PPT-type ginsenosides of Panax notoginseng root extract after 20 h, with a molar conversion yield of 81.2 % and a productivity of 31 mg l⁻¹ h⁻¹. This is the first report on the APPT production from ginseng root extract. Moreover, the concentrations, yields, and productivities of APPT achieved in the present study are the highest reported to date.

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Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA)-based nanoparticles draw remarkable attention as drug delivery agents due to their controlled release characteristics, low toxicity, and biocompatibility. 4HGF is an herbal mixture of Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown rice, Cordyceps militaris grown on germinated soybeans, Polygonum multiflorum, Ficus carica, and Cocos nucifera oil. Here, we encapsulated 4HGF within PGA-based hydrogel nanoparticles, prepared by simple ionic gelation with chitosan, to facilitate its penetration into hair follicles (HFs). In this study, we report the hair promoting activity of 4HGF encapsulated with PGA nanoparticles (PGA-4HGF) and their mechanism, compared to 4HGF alone. The average size of spherical nanoparticles was ~400 nm in diameter. Continuous release of PGA-4HGF was observed in a simulated physiological condition. As expected, PGA-4HGF treatment increased hair length, induced earlier anagen initiation, and elongated the duration of the anagen phase in C57BL/6N mice, compared with free 4HGF treatment. PGA-4HGF significantly increased dermal papilla cell proliferation and induced cell cycle progression. PGA-4HGF also significantly increased the total amount of β-catenin protein expression, a stimulator of the anagen phase, through induction of cyclinD1 and CDK4 protein levels, compared to free 4HGF treatment. Our findings underscore the potential of PGA nanocapsules to efficiently deliver 4HGF into HFs, hence promoting hair-growth. Therefore, PGA-4HGF nanoparticles may be promising therapeutic agents for hair growth disorders.